Lever for switch actuation and hinge therefor



Dec 16, 1969 w, FROYD 3,484,572

LEVER FOR SWITCH ACTUATION AND HINGE-THEREFOR Filed July 30, 1968 FEG. i

INVENTOR LAWRENCE W ROYD BY CQQQM Q J AGENT United States Patent 3,484,572 LEVER FOR SWITCH ACTUATION AND HINGE THEREFOR Lawrence W. Froyd, Princeton, Ind., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 30, 1968, Ser. No. 748,689 Int. Cl. H01h 3/04 US. Cl. 200-172 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to precision type snap switches and more particularly to means for pivotally mounting actuating levers thereof.

Snap switches are provided with many different types of actuating levers which are mounted in various ways. In addition, precision type snap switches are provided with various types of operating means and operating arrangements which are actuated by such levers for switch operation.

The present invention is not concerned with any one particular operating means nor any one particular arrangement thereof. Specifically, the invention is directed to providing a precision type snap switch with improved means for hinging the actuating lever to the switch case. This, heretofore, has been accomplished in many ways each providing specific benefits which were accompanied by corresponding cljdterrcnts and manufacturing difiiculties.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an actuating lever hinge means for a precision type snap switch or the like which is of a relatively uncomplicated rugged construction and can be manufactured with facility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing hinge means which facilitates assembly of a switch lever and case.

And another object of the present invention is to eliminate precision stamping of sheet material from the manufacture of small hinge means for precision type snap switch actuating levers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wire-form hinge means for a precision type snap switch actuating lever which facilitates adjustment and replacement of such lever.

The present invention contemplates a wire-form hinge member of generally U-shape having a bight portion to be connected to the switch case for mounting the hinge member, a pair of leg portions extending from the ends of the bight portion in spaced substantially parallel relationship to one another, and each of said leg portions having a free end spaced from the bight portion and providing means cooperating with the means of the other of the leg portions for providing a pivotal axis and supporting a member for movement about such axis.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a precision type snap switch with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view of the novel hinge member and a portion of the switch case of FIGURE 1 prior to effecting a connection therebetween,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURES 5 and 6 are plan views of modified forms of wire-form hinge members.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4, a precision type snap switch 10 is provided with the usual plastic case 11 enclosing the switch mechanism; a switch operator 14 extending through the top or upper wall portion 12 of the case, closer to one end thereof than the other, and being movable along a vertical axis as viewed in FIGURE 1; and an actuating lever 15 pivotally connected to the top of the switch case. The switch operator or operator plunger 14 is spring biased to its outermost position by any means well known in the art and is depressed inwardly when the actuating lever is pivoted toward the casing 11.

The top or upper wall portion 12 of the switch case 11 is provided with a recess or cavity 13 located between the plunger 14 and the end of the case 11 closer thereto, and which extends lengthwise transverse to the snap switch 10. The actuating lever 15 preferably is made of a piece of sheet material having a pair of lateral projecting portions or trunnions 16 which extend from opposite sides thereof and provide the supported pivots therefor. The trunnions 16 are located towards one end of the actuating lever 15 which may be provided with a tail portion 17, as shown in FIGURE 1, for engaging the closer end of the switch case 11 to limit the pivotation of the actuating lever away from the switch case.

It should be appreciated that while only one snap switch arrangement is shown in the drawings as described above, there is no intent to define the limits of the present invention thereby. The novel hinge means or member as nowwill be described may be embodied in any snap switch arrangement utilizing a pivotal actuating lever.

A novel hinge or support member or means 20 is provided for pivotally connecting the actuating lever 15 to the snap switch case 11. As shown, the novel hinge 20 is a U-shaped wire-form having a bight portion 21, and a pair of leg portions 22 each extending from a different end of the bight portion opposite from the other and terminating in a free end. The leg portions 22 are spaced from and substantially parallel to one another, and each free end thereof is provided with one or more loops or turns 23 formed on a common axis XX and defining an opening 24 formed thereby.

The axis XX of the turns 23 may be oifset to one side of the leg portions 22 as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, and the bight portion 21 is formed or shaped to provide a common foot portion for the hinge member 20. As is best shown in FIGURE 3, the bight portion 21 is arcuately formed or shaped. Although not shown, the leg portions 21 alternatively may extend axially from one side of their respective turns 23 or may be disposed on axes which extend through the axis XX.

Modified wire-form hinge members 20A and 20B are shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, respectively, and are each provided with leg portions 22 with turns 23 at their free ends as is the hinge member 20. The hinge member 20A is provided wtih a bight portion 21A which is V-shaped. The bight portion 21B of the hinge member 20B extends axially between the leg portions 22 substantially parallel to the axis XX and is provided with a central U-shaped oifset 25.

Inasmuch as the modified wire-form hinge or support members 20A and 20B differ from the wire-form hinge or 3 support member 20 only as to the shapes of their respective bight portions 21A and 21B, only the member 20 will be discussed hereinafter for pivotally connecting the actuating lever to the case 11 of the snap swtich 10.

Referring again to FIGURES 1 to 4, the novel hinge member is disposed in the cavity or recess 13 with the bight portion 20 thereof engaging the bottom cavity wall and the turns 23 being disposed outwardly of the top or upper case wall 12. The turns 23 may be adjacent the wall 12 or spaced therefrom by elongating the leg portions 22 (not shown) depending upon the desired location of the axis XX relative to the switch case 11.

The hinge member 20 is located in the cavity 13 by the leg portions 22 which are adjacent to or abut the opposite end and one side of the cavity while the bight portion 21 is adjacent to or abuts the other side of the cavity opposite from the leg portions. It should be readily seen that if the leg portions 22 are spaced from each other a distance greater than the length of the cavity 13 or if the offset between the leg portions and the bight portion 21 is greater than the cavity width, the wire-form can be deformed to reduce its excessive dimension to permit insertion of the hinge member 20 into position.

When the novel hinge member 20 is suitably positioned, the cavity 13 is then filled with an epoxy 18 or any other suitable filler material to lock the hinge member to the snap switch case 11. Although the foregoing is the preferred means of connection, the hinge member 20 alternatively may be connected to the switch case 11 by suitable fastener or strap means engaging the bight portion 21 (not shown) or the bight portion may be molded in place in the upper wall portion 12 when that portion of the switch case is made.

The projecting portions or trunnions 16 are disposed in the openings 24 formed by the turns 23 and are rotatable therein to permit the lever 15 to pivot about the axis XX which extends laterally across the snap switch 10.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto.

Various change may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A wire-form connecting an actuating member to the case of a switch for pivotal movement about an axis disposed laterally relative to said switch, comprising:

a bight portion arranged for connection to said switch case;

a pair of leg portions each extending from a different end of said bight portion in a direction away from said switch case and terminating in a free end spaced from said bight portion;

said leg portions being spaced from and substantially parallel to one another; and

said free ends being formed and engaging said actuating member each on a side thereof opposite from the other thereby connecting said actuating member to said wire-form for pivotation about the lateral axis.

2. The wire-form construction in accordance with claim 1, and

said bight portion having a predetermined shape disposed in a plane substantially normal to said leg portions thereby providing a foot portion for said wire-form. 3. The wire-form connection in accordance with claim 2, and

said switch case having a recess therein; said wire-form disposed with said bight portion in said recess and said formed free end outward of said switch case; and a filler material filling said recess and locking said wireform and switch case together. 4. The wire-form connection in accordance with claim 1, and

the free end of each of said leg portions having at least one turn formed about a common axis thereby defining axially spaced openings; and said actuating member having axially aligned trunion portions extending laterally therefrom each into a different one of said formed openings and being rotatable therein thereby pivotally connecting said actuating member to said wire-form. 5. The wire-form connection in accordance with claim 4, and

said bight portion having a predetermined shape disposed in a plane substantially normal to said leg portions thereby providing a foot portion for said wire-form. 6. The wire-form connection in accordance with claim 5, and

said bight portion being arcuately shaped. 7. The wire-form connection in accordance with claim 5, and

said bight portion being generally a V-shape. 8. The wire-form connection in accordance with claim 5, and

said bight portion extending axially between said leg portions and having a central deformation spaced from its ends. 9. The wire-form connection in accordance with claim 5, and

said switch case having a recess therein; said Wire-form disposed with said bight portion in said recess and said formed free end outward of said switch case; and a filler material filling said recess and locking said wire-form and switch case together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,828,372 3/1958 Bulgin. 2,898,428 8/ 1959 Holden 200-172 2,911,509 11/1959 Millerwise ZOO-153.19 X 3,198,925 8/ 1965 Starrantino 200-172 3,264,444 8/ 1966 Krauss et a1. 200-172 3,303,708 2/ 1967 Rhodes. 3,336,458 8/1967 Hadley 200-172 FOREIGN PATENTS 922,312 3/ 1963 Great Britain.

HERMAN O. JONES, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

